London plans ultra low emission zone

The London transport authority is consulting on a proposal to develop the world’s first “ultra low emission zone” (ULEZ) in central London, which would take effect from September 2020. The ambition is that the ULEZ would at least halve emissions of NOx and PM from vehicle exhausts, according to the proposal.

All vehicles will be required to meet new exhaust emission standards (Euro 6) when entering the zone, or pay a daily charge. Additional requirements are proposed for taxis and new private hire vehicles, which would need to be zero-emission-capable to obtain a licence from 2018. All double-decker buses operating in central London will need to be hybrid and single-decker buses zero emission by 2020.